Cyberattack severely disrupts European flights.

Cyberattack severely disrupts European flights.

A cyberattack on an IT service provider that supports passenger check-in and check-out systems at several European airports caused widespread disruption to air operations on Friday evening, knocking out automated systems and forcing manual procedures at terminals.

At Brussels Airport, the disruption led to at least nine flights being cancelled and more than 15 delayed. Airport officials urged passengers to check their flight status with their airlines before travelling and to allow extra time for check-in and security checks.

In Berlin, airport officials confirmed the incident, saying the problem was caused by an attack on a shared services provider and was causing longer waiting times for passengers. Officials said they were working to fully restore automated systems.

London’s Heathrow Airport reported a similar disruption. The airport management attributed the problem to a “technical failure” in the system of an external supplier and said additional forces had been deployed to mitigate the impact of the attack. The airport also urged passengers to check their flight status before departing.

Airport officials said an investigation was ongoing to identify the perpetrators of the attack and the extent of the potential damage, and no further details about the source of the attack were released.

Europe has been the target of cyberattacks on its critical infrastructure, including energy and transport networks, in recent years. The latest incident has once again highlighted the vulnerability of outsourced airport systems and raised concerns about the cybersecurity of the European aviation industry.